Tubed tyres on tubeless rims

**Andy Booth** · #1 3 Oct 2001

Anyone advise ? Michelin warn against using tubed tyres (deserts) on a tubeless rim. I have an R80GS. I realise that putting a tubed tyre on a tubeless rim is an effort but i didnt realise that it could cause damage to the tyre when being used off road.Should i do it anyway or stick to a tubeless tyre - if so what tubeless compares to a desert?

**AliBaba** · #2 4 Oct 2001

I've used tubed tires on my Basic for 60 kkm. Plenty offroad use, no problems.

I think the Dessert is to wide to your bike, I have used Continental TKC80 in the dessert but next time I will use Pirelli MT21.

d · #3 9 Oct 2001

Gidday!

We put some tubed Conti TKC80 on the R80GS tuebless rims back in Peru some thousands kilometres ago. No problem!

Ciao, d
Ambassador for UNICEF NZ www.2-mad.com

**Grant Johnson** · #4 12 Oct 2001

Andy, is Michelin specifically warning against using Michelin Deserts on a tubeless rim, or all tube-type tires? Do you have a reference url for this information? I couldn't find anything on it.

Do you have a G/S (pre Paralever) which is tubetype, or GS, which is tubeless?

Shouldn't be any difference putting either tire onto either rim - it's only the retention that's different, and getting it OFF. Tubeless rim is harder, with either tire.

------------------
Grant Johnson

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at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

**Andy Booth** · #5 13 Oct 2001

Grant
I have a 1999 registered R80GS basic with tubeless rims.
The main michelin web site www.michelin.com contains a sub-field called "safety information" It does not specify deserts in particular but gives the following advice " Do not use any tube in any tyre when mounted on a tubeless rim or wheel as the internal shape of tubeless rims/wheels can damage an inner tube and cause deflation"
I was wondering if this was just some marketing paranoia by Michelin or if experience has proved this to be true.
Andy B

**Grant Johnson** · #6 14 Oct 2001

Ok, R80GS basic - wish BMW was a little clearer on their models - have to watch the / in the G/S and GS, many people don't realise how different they are.

Sounds like mostly marketing paranoia to me, BUT - why use tubes when you have a tubeless rim? Tubeless is far superior. And there is probably some truth in their statement.

If you MUST use a tube because the tire is tubetype, and you CAN'T find a replacement tubeless tire, I wouldn't personally worry about it - but I have to follow Michelin's recommendation and say don't do it.

The Conti site shows the different profiles of the two rims in the Safety page. It's worth a good read through. (The Conti site is confused on BMW model designations, so be careful)

I would try very hard to find an appropriate tubeless tire. Sorry I can't make any recommendation on which one, but do check out the Continental http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk and Metzeler http://www.metzeler.com websites as well, there is bound to be something. Conti TKC80's come to mind.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 14 October 2001).]

**PPiA** · #7 19 Mar 2002

Andy,
I fitted tubes inside knobbies on my R1100GS and rode about 5000km on dirt, rocks, sand and tar. No punctures and no problems.
Pete
http://static.userland.com/images/ppia/Tanami150001.jpg